Wow, I finally finished. I have had this chapter for some time now, but writing from this character's view point was especially difficult. I hope for and look forward to the day that Midnight Sun comes out. So I can see how the pro does it. Again I give esteem admiration for Stephenie Meyer's work and attribute the basis for my story to her as she is the owner of the true tale. I also tip my head, as I am sure Edward would too, to the timeless words of Mr. Shakespear. I hope this puts the final turn in the bow for my version. Any and all feedback is requested, eagerly anticipated and appreciated. Enjoy.

Epilogue

She was away from me again but this didn't worry me. She has never ventured very far, staying close enough for me to hear her movements, intentional movements, made so that I can hear her. She does this to benefit my apprehensions. Her new gifts suit her well. She has gained control of her ability to shift, as she likes to call it. I liken this to the phasing that the wolves do. For her, it is like moving from a human disguise to a more complete vampire form with benefits. When she is in the latter her heart mutes, I cannot hear a single beat, but she is no less my Bella.

I have pondered Jacob's theory and I like to think Bella kept some of her traits for me. Yes, that sounds selfish, but in actuality it sounds typically sacrificing of her. Her scent is the same, freesia and citrus in full bloom but sweeter. The flecks of gold in her eyes seem to be growing only minimally, but to her satisfaction growing none the less. This change was a bit of a surprise to Carlisle. Her skin is not paler than it was before; however, its durability is unquestionable. Her body is temperate with mine. Being here alone with her at our home is more peaceful than I could have ever dreamed of. She says it is that way for her, too.

The moment she woke in Voltera I had so much to ask her but no time to do so. Watching her for those five days, I felt so helpless. If not for the rhythmic beat of her heart to keep me company, I don't know what I would have done. Alice kept the faith for me but I suspected her patience was ultimately tested. It was so unfortunate that her wakening had to occur under such strained circumstances, but for now that is behind us. The moment the plane took off from Italy was when our life together became just for us.

I was surprised and relieved to see her sleeping again. Being there while she slept was different this time. Before her change, I used to battle inside myself, while she lay on her bed. I needed to be there watching her, to be near her. I craved to smell her essence all the while stifling my thirst. I anxiously anticipated any word she might utter. She was a constant in my mind, in my thoughts and in my desires. Through it all there was the underlying fact that we were not the same and it was my greatest challenge. What she saw once as boyfriend and girlfriend could in any instant change to predator and prey. Like I told her once it was mind over hunger, but I believe more correctly it was heart over hunger. The only lust I have for her now is just to be with her.

Having her head resting on my chest, hearing the faint beat of her heart, beating its steady relaxed rhythm, was a symphony of a thousand percussionists. Imbibing her scent gave me immense pleasure. It was shear bliss to savor her aroma without wanting to end her life. Yes, she smelled different but only slightly. It would be like smelling pepper but without the part that makes your nose itch and cause you to sneeze. You would still get the bite and zest of the spice.

"How is it for you, Edward? There are changes that are evident, but not typical." Carlisle had asked me. The word typical made me smile. Nothing about my wife was typical.

"She is even more perfect to me." I replied stroking her hair.

"I don't smell her, like that, like before, but you were more attuned to her. Do you still crave her? Can you tell what runs through her veins?" he asked.

"I desire only her love and return the same to her. I have no hunger or thirst for her anymore." Carlisle was quiet for several minutes pondering my answer. It was obvious there were many more questions he wanted to ask. I thought it easier to explain to him what I thought to be truth up to this point. "It didn't happen all at once. It was gradual. Sitting with her in my room, I didn't seem to notice it happening. All I could do, all I could know was being with her hoping she would come back to me and be okay. When we were at the airport and boarded the jet for Voltera I realized the difference. The smell of the pilot and the staff were like any other human that brought on the craving to control. When I bent over her to secure the gurney the thirst was not there. At first I thought my distress had numbed me to her. I tested myself and inhaled deeply from her hair and then her breath. I was overcome with sweet bliss and nothing more. Unfortunately, at the time, this was not enough as she was still unconscious and her fate unsure. I kept trying to run every scenario and outcome through my mind and what I would need to do to bring her back to me, but I always came up empty and just had to wait."

Carlisle looked down at her and back up to me smiling, relieved my wait was over.

"Can you tell me something, something from my past?" I asked.

"If I can." he replied.

"In the hospital, during the influenza epidemic, were there people there who were not affected, who sat with their loved ones, like my mother tried to do for me before she knew that death was eminent for the both of us?"

"There were very few who were not affected, but yes they would sit with masks on much like you did for Bella, waiting for an outcome." He answered.

"I see." I said, now understanding the depths of despair. "I realize my arrogance in thinking that, because of our longevity, we know so much more than mere humans, but it is not always how much you know, but what you know and have experienced. Suffrage is a great burden but yields rewards in many forms."

"Bella is quite a treasure." Carlisle admitted.

"Yes, she is," I replied stroking her hair invoking her fragrance about me "but she has given my humility and humanity back to me. The belief she has in me and my soul," this word I said with reverence, "has always been unwavering. It's like she only saw the best in me and filtered out all the rest. I've had much to think about in re-evaluating myself and what I am to her and for her. I need to be the man she sees."

"You are, my son. You don't need to change to be something you already are. You just need to accept what we all see; if you change you would cease to be what she desires and loves. Peace and happiness are great things and are even greater when shared."

I thought about the hundreds of years that Carlisle had been alone, before he sired me. I remember how peaceful a man he was in my beginning and still is today. I remembered how happy he was once Esme had made it through the change and received him with equal joy. They shared these things in the purest way. They had made their sacrifices and from that point on moved forward together. I would do that with Bella, but had all her sacrifices been made so she could move forward too?

"Edward, don't over think it. Just let it happen and enjoy being together." Carlisle added. "She seems to be handling her change, however different it is, as well as Esme did. This is fortuitous and intriguing. She will have questions and there may be no way to answer them as they relate to her particular situation. You need to give her time to adjust and support her like you always have."

"Nothing about Bella has ever been the norm. She is now, in all senses of the word, unique, from her still beating heart, changing eyes and whatever it is that she does to manipulate the powers of others. She is the unknown in one complete package." As I said these things Carlisle's expression changed to one of interested quizzicality. I hadn't gotten to the point of outlining the other differences I had noted. "Her eyes are still brown but there are times when she morphs and her eyes become iridescent crystal pools and her heart mutes. I don't think she does this voluntarily but more defensively or instinctually."

"When did you first notice this and how often has this happened?" he asked.

"The first time was when we were still at home and Jacob came to visit before the Volturi came. I had mentioned to him they were coming and Bella began to rouse and her eyes opened and they were as I described reflective crystals. It only lasted a brief moment and she did not speak. After a minute I checked her eyes again and they had returned to their natural warm pallor. I checked her eyes often after that and they remained brown." I recalled a time when brown was her favorite color and topaz her favorite stone because it matched my eyes. Because of her, brown was peace and tranquility to me.

I continued, "I suspect, but cannot confirm, that this may have occurred at other times while in Italy and she was still sedate. This would be times when the Fathers came to her room. I dared not check beneath her eye lids with them present but I noticed the lack of her heart's drumming."

"Has it happened since she regained consciousness?" Carlisle queried.

"Oh, yes. I feared it might and used the ruse of light sensitivity to hide her eyes behind the glasses. I was glad I did when it happened with Aro standing directly in front of her and Caius not far behind. I didn't tell you this sooner because I didn't want Aro to hold you accountable."

Carlisle nodded with understanding and I continued.

"It was not until I witnessed it that I realized the change in her eyes signified her ability. Did you happen to notice, right after Aro bid us farewell, Felix was experiencing a bit of discomfort?"

"Yes but I assumed he was disappointed with the outcome of the meeting with Aro and our eminent departure. What exactly is her ability? What can she do? Is she aware of it?"

"I'm not sure exactly what it is she does. She only has a suggestion that she has her ability. I think my plan for her and I to spend time alone will be opportune for her to explore and define the ability. Thankfully I don't believe that Aro or any of the others suspect anything."

"I agree. There is a lot she has to get used to; her change, as different as it is, any abilities she has and being married. That is a lot to take in. Just concentrate on the later for now and let her ease into the other. This is uncharted territory for all of us and there is much more for her to consider." Carlisle reminded me.

"You mean her parents."

"Yes and her friends."

I considered her plight and wondered how she was considering her situations. I was a bit surprised that her rest was brief. I was amused that I was correct in my assumption about her changing diet. She didn't appear to be alarmed by it. Her eagerness to learn the ways of my lifestyle was evident, but there was still a lot of uncertainty for what she was. I tried to reassure her that we have more than enough time to review the expectations of her new life, but this was Bella, stubborn and determined.

Carlise tried to rationalize a reason for her current eye color and the sporadic change to the crystalline state, but I sensed this was not very reassuring to her. "Bella, when we were in the room with the others, did you notice anything different or new for you? Do you feel anything when your eyes change?" I asked.

"My eyes changed when we were in there?"

"Yes, they did." I confirmed. "It happened twice, once when we first entered and became stationary in the room before the fathers. They faded back to brown just after Carlisle showed his respect to Aro. The second time was when you were staring Felix down before we left. What did you see in him that made you change?

"I didn't know I changed. He just had that same look on his face that Victoria would get." When I heard her say this I couldn't help myself but react to the name of evil that was Victoria. I was also sure her change was triggered defensively. Bella continued trying to redirect the conversation. "Sorry. It just made me mad and I thought that if I could do what Jane could do I would show him. Maybe I put the idea in her head and she gave him a little taste."

The phrase, revenge is sweet came to mind, but unfortunately for her, Felix's experience with Jane was nothing new. I explained that Felix and his enormous arrogance and superiority complex had led him to challenge himself against other vampire's powers. In the times I was able to glance at his mentality, I saw an almost primitive rationale. Everything to him was black and white. You were either Vampire or meat, gifted or not and in his terms, royal or not. He actually believed his gift was that of endurance against other gifts or at least the ones he was willing to challenge.

"So Jane was mad at him for glaring at me?" she asked.

"I don't think Jane had anything to do with what was happening to Felix. I think you did it. The second you realized pain was being inflicted your eyes reverted back to brown. I think you did it. I think you borrowed Jane's power without her knowing. Too bad you didn't give her a dose of her own ability." She was quiet for several minutes. I could see she was considering my theories.

"You know Aro thinks I'm a lovely child but my love for you blinds me and will never allow me to reach my full potential." She said smiling.

I can only imagine the look of shock on my face. "You heard that?"

"Yes and Caius hopes to never look upon me again. That request I would happily fulfill."

"You could hear their thoughts?" She could read their minds, but I didn't want that for her, the constant ramblings of thoughts for the endless score of people. Maybe this wasn't what she did I needed her to explain more.

"Some of the time," She admitted smiling. I hoped she was not serious about this being her gift.

"She's an acquirer, Edward," Carlisle said with amazement.

These words were only vaguely familiar to me, but within seconds I was relieved to know that Bella would not be burden with the constant ruckus that I fought within myself.

"This means you can borrow other's abilities, Bella. You will have to figure out what your limitations are, if any, and which abilities you can or cannot borrow. There will be plenty of time to explore that. With all that has happened in the past week, I think you and Edward deserve some quite time alone. We all do." This seemed to satisfy her for a brief while. She sat pondering what she heard.

After what I guessed to be about thirty minutes her curiosity got the best of her and she started wanting other details of vampire characteristics. I reminded her that her strength for the time being is greater than mine and for that matter possibly her speed. While we were on the plane, I helped her explore the improvements in her hearing, sight and smell. She seemed most amused by the fact that she did not have to breathe but now understood the need for it and the joy of smelling.

"These people have no idea how limited they are."

"Neither had you." I retorted smiling. It was nice to have her know more of what it is like to be me, but then I could not help but frown.

Catching my change in expression she asked concerned "What?" After a few seconds she continued apologetically. "Oh, that was very arrogant of me to say. Edward, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I mean… Oh…"

"Bella, I know what you mean and that was not what I was thinking. It's very nice to share with you what it is like to be one of us, but I don't wish for you to share the darker sides of us. I don't want for you to be challenged the way we are. It is not easy to maintain our lifestyle."

She put her finger to my lips and with the softest look in her eyes and the faintest smile on her lips she said "I know. It will be fine, you'll see."

Always the optimist in the face of the unknown, just another irrational thing I loved about her. I leaned in and kissed her forehead and held her closely the rest of the flight home.

Once we arrived in Juneau, the rental cars Carlisle had asked Esme to arrange were waiting. Carlisle was eager to get home and quickly wished us a safe trip to our cabin. I put the luggage in the car. We were finally alone. Before we got into the car I couldn't resist pulling her close knowing she was no longer the frail flower from the garden, but my equal and my partner. These terms made me warm inside and I knew a smile radiated on my face. She smiled back with sincerity from the depth of her soul.

The night air was brisk but my love for her was electric. For at this moment there was no Voltera, no fathers, no werewolves, no brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or friends, there was only us and our time together. "So, are you ready to go home, Mrs. Cullen? I have one last promise to keep." I was sure the volume of her heart increased. She smiled and placed her hand aside my face. "Oh, yes." She replied.

Once we were in the car, I did something I had never done. I put on my seatbelt. She was amused but understood my subtle request for her to do the same. Yes it was true that she was more durable than before but with everything being so different for her, her limitations were not yet known. I drove only moderately over the speed limit, wanting to prolong and savor every moment of every second we had beginning our lives together.

I knew Alice had been at the cabin preparing it for a proper honeymoon and that it would be perfect, typical Alice. Then the uncertainty hit me when I realized that I had not fully considered my part in the equation. How do I start this, to make this special for Bella, for us both? Should I carry her across the threshold? Would she be offended if I did? She giggled and said "You're over thinking it." I looked at her but her gaze was fixed on her hand in her lap.

"What?"

She looked up and me, her eyes were stunning opals. Her smile was glowing with her personal charm. I was now even more at a disadvantage. This was disturbing for me. My personal thoughts were no longer my own. Is this how my family felt around me? She took my right hand and held it to her lips where she kissed it and moved it to the side of her face.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't listening on purpose. I'm nervous too. Don't think about it. This is new for both of us. No, I shouldn't say that, it sounds dumb." I heard this but her lips did not move.

"Your right and it doesn't sound dumb." I replied. Now the shock was hers.

"You heard me? Oh, this is so weird."

"Right, weird," I agreed and she laughed again. Her laugh was sparkling. It eased my tensions and I knew I should do what Carlisle said and just let things happen. She closed her eyes for what seemed a longer than normal blink, her eyes were brown again and I could no longer hear her thoughts. "How did you do that? Do you know? Can you tell, I mean feel it, when your eyes change?"

"Yes, it's like…" she paused trying to formulate the words. "I barely notice it. It's like a shift to an altered state of awareness, not sensitivity or something like that. I'm sorry. I'm not making any sense."

"Actually you are. Do you think you can will it to happen?"

"Maybe, I don't know. I'm not sure what causes it to happen" she replied.

"How were you feeling just now?" I asked

"Nervous… like you" she added laughing again.

"I told Carlisle that I believe this to be a defensive change. I mean it happens when you feel threatened or vulnerable or less than confident with yourself. I bet this is something you can work on to make it voluntary."

There was a look of excitement that entered her eyes. Then she asked "But, if all I can do is hear people, how is that any different than what you can do, except that you can do it all the time and I would have to make myself do it?"

"Carlisle said your ability is acquiring. You can borrow other's abilities. There might be limitations but those could be defined later." She was quiet, absorbing what I had said. I wished I could hear her thoughts now. "What are you thinking?" I asked her.

She paused and was no longer smiling. "I wouldn't want to have ability like Jane. What she does is so mean, so cruel. I don't know that I would knowingly want to do that to someone, to anyone. I don't know that I would want to know everyone's thoughts all the time. I know and understand how hard that is for you. I don't see how this is any good."

We had reached the house and I parked the car. There was a light on in the front room. I walked to her side of the car, opening her door and answered her statement. "The ability is what you choose to do with it. If you can control it you don't have to be cruel or mean. Bella, you don't have to hear the thoughts. You have the option to not use your ability. The shifting you do is like a switch. You have choices." I put my arm around her and pulled the most precious gift in the world close to me. "I don't believe you could use your gift the way they do. You're not the slightest bit like the Volturi, just like my family and Tonya's are not like them. You are better, Bella, and I am better because of you."

Her posture dipped just a bit and I was not sure if she was in disagreement with my statement or embarrassed by the truth of it. Placing my finger under her chin I lifted her eyes to meet mine. "All you need to know is that I love you, every part of you, because you are who you are. Don't ever change, promise?" She closed her eyes and smiled her affirmation.

"I love you to, with all my heart." She had reached up putting her arms around my neck and running her fingers up into my hair. We came together and kissed passionately with the emotions of what we had just spoken. My hands on her back pressed her close to me and I step forward leaning her back against the car door shutting it, but the force of the two of us caused the entire car to move back a fraction. I could feel her lips against mine turning up as a giggle escaped her lips. I felt laughter growing within myself too. I understood that Carlisle's advice had multiple meanings and that taking it slowly might prevent some unwanted destructions. I had become so accustomed to wearing kid gloves around Bella, that now that there was no need. I was forgetting how other things around us still remain fragile.

"We had better be careful or we could bring the forest down around us." I jested.

"I'm sure we could, but let's not. I rather enjoy the privacy."

"As you wish; anything for you Mrs. Cullen."

"For us," she corrected. She took my hand in hers and moved away from the car smiling back at me leaving nothing else for me to do but follow her.

In the midst of all that is natural, everything about her was intoxicating, but not in the way I had had to live with for the past two years. The insatiable craving from the beast within was no longer there, replaced with a new craving, more intense, yet foreign to me but not forbidden.

"Shall we go inside and see what Alice has been up to?" she said giggling.

Not wanting to sound too eager, I extended my harm to her with conscious calmness escorting her into our home.

The minute we walked through the back door and into the main room I knew Alice was not alone in her planning. "Emmett just can't help himself" she said. I glanced at her a little embarrassed for what my brother had done. The bed had been placed directly in the center of the room.

"Bella, I'm sorry, I didn't know he was going to do this. We don't have to rush into this" I stammered.

She lilted over to the bed, turned and with a tiny leap landed reclining on the bed with a sigh. "Oh come on Edward. This is great. The fire place, the view and you, what else could I ask for? This was actually very thoughtful. I would have never guessed he had it in him." She said trying to be reassuring. I knew she was trying to convince herself of her reassurance but the flutter of her heart's beat gave her away. She sat up and patted the bed beside her with a sheepish confidence on her face. I cautiously stepped towards her, gauging her pulse for panic. If it were possible for me to have a pulse, I'm convinced that it would alarm many in the medical profession.

I sat down beside her and took her hand, content to just be holding it. She rested her head against my shoulder. Her other hand rose to rest on my chest. With my eyes closed I leaned closer towards her inhaling the perfectness of the moment. Perfect was an understatement, there were no distractions, just pure silent bliss. There would be nothing to interrupt us and no need to rush anything. I felt her hand move down the center of my shirt relieving the captive buttons from the cloth. I thought I should tell her we didn't have to rush, but she looked up at me with serene diamond eyes.

No talking, no thinking. Will you just feel with me? Please?

With no answer required, I leaned in and tenderly kissed her mouth. I was instantly shocked when her tongue brushed my teeth but her arm had moved tighter around my neck to impede any withdraw. The gentlest pressure persuaded me to lie back on the bed. She drew back from me a little. Her eyes were closed and I watched her take in a deep breath. A smile grew on her face. I stared in amazement of her rapture. She leaned down to my throat and inhaled through her nose and mouth. I wondered if she tasted what she smelled. This continued as she traveled down my chest where she rested her head. I heard her make a small noise of satisfied conclusion.

"What?" I asked.

"The way you smell is amazing, it's more than what I remember from before. It's like richness with a touch of spice. I know with more practice I will be able to describe it better. It's not intoxicating like before but comforting, like sun on your face but better. It's perfect, just enough" She blushed with a personal embarrassment.

"So are you" I replied pulling her down beside me and holding her close.

There was no more talking after that.

We watched the sun come up together and she was right about the view from the bed. Everything about it was glorious. For the next two days we watched the sun set and rise from that vantage point, never leaving one another. Her eye had not ventured to the lighter hue since our first night.

After watching another globe set from brilliant gold to misty pink and lavender it was becoming evident that other needs required attention. We dressed and ventured out into the woods where I downed an elk and offered it to her. I saw a fierce need and desire in her face and watched her lick her lips. She hesitantly looked to me. "Bella it's okay. Just get closer and smell the blood. It's okay what you're feeling. I'm impressed that you have the control that you do." She took one step and then was upon the buck, devouring the liquid within. In no time at all she had her fill. She raised but kept her head down, her hair concealing her face. She raised her hand up under her hair and I could tell she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Bella, are you okay? Do you need more?"

In a whisper she replied "No, I'm fine. I can just feel it moving through me to the very edges of me, beyond just my stomach. It's really kind of w…." her head jolted up and she looked up into the trees with alarm. Her eyes were reflectively scanning around.

I instinctively went into a hunting crouch but could not sense anything unusual. I changed my strategy and tried to feed off of what she was experiencing. I got nothing. I watched her stand and still looking up into the sky. She covered her ears with her hands and then uncovered them, like she was trying to discern a change in sounds. Her movement gradually became more relaxed.

I had had enough of not understanding so I asked "Bella, love, what is it?" I instantly hoped she was still able to hear me and not developing deafness due to her unusual change.

"I hear them talking" she replied.

"Hear who? I don't hear anyone but you and nature around us."

"They are talking about me"

"Who are talking about you? The Volturi, who is it Bella?"

"No, no. It's Jacob and Seth I think." She had a quizzical smile and her eyes were glistening opals. "Don't you hear him?"

I set aside my immediate frustration and concentrated on listening. I hadn't had to work at my gift since I couldn't remember when. Maybe Jacob was just a bit too far off for me to her him. Maybe Bella's gift not only allowed her to borrow another's gift but gave her an amped up version. "Bella, I'm sorry I don't hear them. What are they saying?"

"Oh, Jake had gone to see Carlise. He told them we were back and that things were smoothed over with the Volturi. He was telling this to Seth, but they were like, running. I got the feeling Jake was chasing him or letting him get ahead of him or something."

They were in there wolf form. Bella was hearing their pack connection. "Bella, can they hear us talking now?" I asked.

She giggled a bit and then laughed out loud. "No they couldn't hear you and I talking but when I thought about saying 'hey Jake' he heard that."

"And that's funny because…"

"Just a second," she froze with her eyes shut like she was concentrating on something. She opened her eyes and exasperated, "Oh, crap. I lost him." Her eyes were again her given brown hue.

"Bella, could you tell where they were? Are they coming here?" I asked trying to make sense of what was happening.

She laughed again. "No, they're not coming here but I almost made Jake hit a tree. I spooked him good." She closed her eyes tight and cupped her hands over her ears. Then opened them again and sighed in exasperation. "I can't get him, I mean hear him. I don't get how to do this." I heard frustration edging into her voice. Then there was a look of panic on her face. "Edward, what if I listen in or get into the head of someone who is not our friend or worse the Volturi. You said they send scouts out sometimes. What if they scout us and I get in their head and they find me to be a threat. Oh, god this is bad. I'm a menace to all of you, again. Edward, you got to teach me how to work this. Show me how to control this." She was pacing back and forth. Her anxiety was getting the better of her.

"Bella calm down, you're jumping to conclusions that are unfounded. I believe if you stay calm, you stay in your neutral state." I put my arm around her reassuringly and turned her back towards our house. "Bella, my love, you are not a threat to us. If anything you may be The force to be reckoned with."

She was trying to present herself as calm and collected but little things, wringing her fingers, biting the inside of her lip and her unfocused gaze gave evidence of her mind racing through scenarios of doom. "Okay, listen to me. You have to stop and listen. Look at this rationally." I held her hands and waited till her quivering subsided. "You heard Jacob and Seth, but they didn't hear you until, for lack of a better word, you spoke to them, right." She nodded meekly. "What you can do seems to be as undetectable as you want it to be. Jane had no idea you borrowed her ability and Felix had no idea it was coming from you. Jacob probably would have had no idea you were listening if you hadn't reached out to him. I also deduce that I can only hear you when we touch." I step close to her taking her hand in mine. I watched her eyes and the panic began to drift away. I waited for her to digest what I said.
"Okay, that makes sense but wouldn't it be better for me to be able to shift intentionally and not on a panicked whim?"

"Bella this is not a curse. This last time you were not panicked or stressed, right?" she considered and nodded. "This is all very new to you, as it was for all of us in the beginning. It took me time to learn to block the thoughts of others from my mind. It has only been a couple of weeks. You are acclimating at a remarkable rate, in my opinion and I can't see where this part will be any different. You will get there. What you can and can't do is not important. To quote a wise woman "It doesn't matter." What is important is that we are together, happy and nothing is going to change how I feel about you. She smiled and placed her hand aside my face.

"Thank you" she whispered. She turned and changed course taking my hand.

"Where…"

"Shhhh…" she said with a grin. She gave a slight persuasion to my momentum and I was walking beside her. She slid her arm around me, nestling in closer, while we walked to the shore of the lake. Our pace slowed and she stopped with a relaxed sigh. The sky was dark with the night and only a sliver of the moon. The late hour was abounding with the noises of the nocturnal world. She turned toward me securing her embrace around me. She tilted her head back smiling and looking to the heavens. I wondered if she was pondering the implication of heaven and that I had taken that path from her. "Without the dark, we'd never see the stars. Of all that is possible, infinite possibilities, like millions of stars, I found you and now I have the only possibility I knew was right for me." Her gaze met mine and was more brilliant than any star above.

"You have always been so sure. With only eighteen years of life how can you be so definite?"

"Because I love you, no more or less, it is simple." She said these words with such ease and surety. She was one of us now for all intents and purposes. Yet my feelings were the same no matter what she was and I was unwavering. Why should I expect anything less from her?

I felt I should affirm myself and borrowed from a very notable source, "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite." I was sure I noticed a flush in her cheeks and raised a hand to enjoy the sensation of her skin. There was no sensation of heat but a smile was spreading on her face.

She rose up on her toes and very lightly touched my lips with hers. "Me too" She replied.

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